Authorities say a convicted burglar on probation fled a Jefferson Parish courtroom and vanished into Gretna on Friday, after learning he was going to jail. Randy Riggins, 29, of St. Rose, fled from the third-floor courtroom inside the Jefferson Parish Courthouse, 200 Derbigny St., according to Col. John Fortunato, spokesman for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office.

Gretna police and Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office deputies combed the streets and neighborhoods around the courthouse after Riggins' escape. Witnesses said the man ran out of a door on the backside of the Dolhonde Street side of the building and ran toward Fourth Street.

"I just saw him running. I didn't know what was going on," said one witness who was standing in front of the nearby Jefferson Parish Correctional Center. "Then the officers came running out of everywhere."

Deputies and Gretna police, who handle courthouse security, scoured the building from the third floor to the ground floor moments after Riggins ran out.

Minutes earlier, Riggins had been in 24th Judicial District Court Judge Michael Mentz's third-floor courtroom, where his probation officer, Eva Tripkovich, sought to have his probation revoked. In 2006, Riggins pleaded guilty to simple burglary and received probation in lieu of a 12-year prison sentence.

However, in January, Tripkovich sought to have Riggins removed from the probation program because he was arrested on a cocaine charge in Kenner in September, and because he had not paid restitution in the burglary case, court records show.

On Friday, Mentz set a revocation hearing for June 13, when he potentially could take Riggins off probation and order him to serve the original 12-year sentence. Tripkovich asked Mentz to have Riggins jailed until then. That's when Riggins "panicked and took off," his public defender Autumn Town said.

A lawyer who was in court for an unrelated case said Riggins walked in circles, saying, "Oh, man," before bolting for the courtroom door.

Witnesses inside the courthouse said Riggins ran down the hall and kicked open a set of double doors corrections officers use to escort inmates to and from court, setting off a high-pitched alarm. Riggins apparently ran down to the ground level through back passageways closed to the general public, then out a back door onto Dolhonde Street.

"Hopefully he will turn himself in, so we can have this matter resolved through court before it's worse for him," Town said.

Mentz, meanwhile, issued a warrant for Riggins' arrest on a charge of contempt of court, and ordered him held without bond if he's caught, records show.

Deputies broadcast a warning over police radios that Riggins is violent and will put up a
fight. Riggins is about 5 feet 8 inches tall and
weighs about 170 pounds. He was wearing a white and gray
button-down shirt with a white T-shirt underneath. He has short hair and
a tattoo of a star on his forehead. Riggins also has several other
tattoos, some visible on his neck.

Anyone with information on the
whereabouts of Randy Riggins is asked to dial 911. The public can also
contact Crimestoppers by calling 504.Crimestoppers at 504.822.1111 or
toll-free at 877.903.7867.